The 14-book series centered around the world of Oz and its lore is the basis for any live-action adaptations. Here it is, in chronological order.
The Wizard of Oz was an entertainment franchise before the concept even existed. Frank L. Baum, who wrote the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, wrote a 14-book series about the wonderous land of Oz, and only a few have been adapted for television or films.
The books are considered to be young adult novels, but the dark fantasy and bizarre, even grotesque creatures and settings make them just as entertaining for adults. The original books penned by Baum are just a part of a whole library of spinoffs and compilations known as „The Famous Forty“ which doesn’t include alternative books by other authors or the various other volumes recognized by L. Frank Baum’s Family Trust as true Oz books.14 The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz
Illustrator: W. W. Denslow
Publishing Company: George M. Hill Company
The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz was one of the first in the realm of dark fantasy as a genre, and decades later, the movie would break similar ground when it came to movie-making. Despite the massive amount of Wizard of Oz-related media out there, a vast majority of that is derived from this book, which tells the now-familiar story of how Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto were swept away to the colorful Oz from her dull, native Kansas.13 The Marvelous Land Of Oz
Illustrator: John R. Neill
Publishing Company: Reilly & Britton
The full title of this book is The Marvelous Land of Oz: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and just like the title suggests it recounts the further adventures of two popular characters from the first volume.
It also introduces the characters of Princess Ozma and Jack Pumpkinhead, who appear extensively in later books and also make an appearance in the film Return to Oz.12 Ozma Of Oz
Illustrator: John R. Neill
Publishing Company: Reilly & Britton
The plot of this book starts with Dorothy traveling to Australia, which makes the setting of the Wizard of Oz parody film 20th Century Oz less bizarre. Although the live-action movie Return to Oz is intended as a direct sequel to the 1939 film, it borrows most of its storyline from Ozma of Oz. Details like the chicken coop and Billina the chicken as a companion instead of Toto are two examples.11 Dorothy And The Wizard In Oz
Illustrator: John R. Neill
Publishing Company: Reilly & Britton
A close sequel to the last book on the timeline, Dorothy is visiting California on her way back from Australia and an earthquake swallows her up and sends her to Oz again. This time the animal companions are her cat Eurkea and her uncle’s horse Jim, and after meeting the Wizard in the vast underground, they travel to the Emerald City.
